From the article: Clipping Coupons - Keeping Coupons Organized
The most successful coupon clippers that I know have "to die for" coupon organization systems which allows them to get their hands on a coupon quickly. Some systems are small, some quite elaborate. How do you keep your coupons together? Share Your Tips
Organizing coupons
- I organize coupons according to expiration of month. I make 12 envelopes with the months of the year writtian on them. Go through them throughout the month and use them before expiration date if I need them. Try to file them in envelope according to dates of expiration.
- —Guest Karen
Two Coupon Systems
- I have a small box where I keep my cut out coupons with expiration dates ordered. For online coupons (which I am using more and more these days) I have a word document with coupon websites.
- —Guest Fatima
Alphabetically
- That way I only have to look and think one thought!
- —Guest anna
Coupon Organizer and Computer
- I keep my coupons in an organizer, but I had a hard time remembering what coupons I had so I typed them up on the computer. I print the list and take it with me. Now when I use one I just cross it off my list and delete it off the computer when I am adding my new ones.
- —Guest Amy
Coupon Box That Fits on a Shopping Cart
- I used to use an envelope. That grew old as the envelope would soon be wrinkled and torn, not to mention the coupons! Then I tried a plastic envelope with dividers, but was always fumbling with them while I was pushing the cart. Recently a friend sent me a link about something she had run across, a phenomenal item called "Coupon AlaCart." It's heavy duty cardboard, just the right size to hold lots of coupons, with sturdy dividers. Now the neat thing about this is that it comes with Velcro tabs that allows the box to sit very stationary on the handle of the shopping cart. No more fumbling. I pull the coupons as I find the items, slip into a special slot so that when I get to the checkout, they are all available and ready to hand to the clerk. Whomever thought up this ingenious device should get an award. I love it. If you care to check it out: http://www.couponsalacart.net/
- —Suegram
My Method
- The previous responses are a couple of ways people do this. Another way is to alphabetize by food company or product name. I eat a limited list of foods as a single person with allergies. So, for me, it is best to categorize my coupons. All soup coupons here, all canned veggies there, etc.
- —godzgood
Mead 5-star and 'Baseball Card' Pages
- I found a way to utilize both front and back sides of baseball card pages: I use 2.5 x 3.5 in. dark solid card stock piece in each pocket, which separates the front side coupons from the back side coupons, also providing a nice 'background' on each side for reducing 'visual clutter'.
- —Guest tunnasch
Zippered Binder
- I am a die hard couponer. I quickly outgrew the regular coupon organizers and came up with a great system that works for me.I buy 6 sunday papers and get lots of coupons from friends and family so I had to many to keep in such a small organizer.I use a large 3 ring zippered organizer with 2 pocket photo sheets.I have 40 sheets each with 2 pockets. so I have 80 different pockets for my coupons. This allows me to organize well and be able to quickly find what I need.
- —couponclippingmomma
Envelopes and My Computer
- I use envelopes labeled by the month and a spreadsheet on my computer with the coupon information, expiration date and coupon amount logged by month. When I get ready to go to the store, I compare the spreadsheet list to the advertised grocery discounts I get in the mail and what I read online at the grocery store's websites and I print the list of the coupons I need. I use the list to pull the coupons from the envelopes and then place those into a small recipe box labeled by type - dairy, canned, etc. When I'm at the store, I can refer to the list while I am shopping and just pull the coupon when checking out. When watching TV, I go through the monthly envelopes and pull the expired coupons and trash them. I find this a real simple and effective way to keep things together and quickly accessible.
- —alexjamie
Index Card Box
- I have one of those old metal boxes that were designed to file 3x5 index cards in. It makes a perfect file "cabinet" for coupons.
- —waders
